US President Donald Trump is making great efforts to prevent the resumption of hostilities with Iran, despite the Iranian regime’s delays and negotiation tactics, insist senior Israeli defense officials.
“The Iranians are playing cards they don’t have. The Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and senior Revolutionary Guards officials assess that the Americans do not want to strike Iran ahead of or during the World Cup in order to improve negotiations,” the officials stated.
Defense officials also claimed that the Iranian leadership itself is operating under immense tension, which is divided between two main challenges.
First is the conduct of the younger Khamenei, who is struggling to make decisions—not only because of his injuries (he suffered facial wounds and an amputated leg) but also due to his undermined status caused by the strong influence and intervention of the Ayatollahs and senior Revolutionary Guards officials.
The second challenge is the tension between the two main blocs.
While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are pushing with all their might for a long-term ceasefire and an accelerated reconstruction process, Israeli defense officials claim that Mojtaba and Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, are “seeking revenge against Israel and other nations.”
This issue requires the Israeli intelligence community to remain on high alert, including continuous readiness by the Air Force for long-range strikes.
The defense establishment assesses that US President Trump is focusing his negotiations with the Iranians on two primary issues: the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is less of a concern for the Israeli government, and the nuclear project, including the removal of enriched uranium.
“There is clearly a concern that the Iranians will aim to keep the 460 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium buried underground, and at a convenient time, such as the days following the Trump administration, act to retrieve it for use in their nuclear project.”
“This is a highly concerning issue,” the senior official said. “Of course, Trump is leaving the matters of ballistic missiles, the rehabilitation of the Iranian defense industries, and the funding of terrorism in the Middle East to Israel and the countries of the region.”
It is worth noting that the United States’ 250th anniversary is fast approaching on July 4, 2026, a milestone that also carries weight in White House decision-making, which attaches great importance to the date.